POUGHKEEPSIE – The nine Democratic legislators in attendance Monday night voted against the $650 million 2026 county budget, despite voting in favor of an amendment to restore several positions to the District Attorney’s Office, with Minority Leader Yvette Valdés Smith saying she supported the amendment because it affects public safety.

The 15 Republicans, using their last few weeks as the majority party in the legislature, voted in favor of the spending plan.

Valdés Smith is likely to become the Chairperson of the legislature in January following the widespread victories of the Democrats in November. The Dems will hold 15 seats and the Republicans will have 10. Normally a two-year term, the recently elected lawmakers are up for re-election in November as the state moves to even-year

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